Improved cow-milkee



G. H. GARDNER.

COW 'MILKER.

No. 68,358. Patented Se t; 3, 1867.

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Gannon n. GARDNER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. 'ASSIGNOR 'lO HIMSELF AND A. B.-COOLEY, or SAME PLACE. I

- Letters Patent No. 68,358, dated September 3, 1867..

IMPROVED GOW-MILKBR.

fiiln fitlplmle rtfetrtt it it this: fitters patent ant making an at tin stun.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. Gsnonsmpf Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an improved Oow- Milker, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptiionof'th'c same. 7

My invention consists of certain improvements, fully described hereafter, in the cow-milker for which Letters Patentwcre granted to me on the twentieth day of December, 1864.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction I and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and

' in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved cow-milker. Figure 2, a sectional plan view of the same on the line 12, fig. 1; and Figure 3, an inverted plan view. Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. A is a circular vessel, in which is arranged -to slide vertically a piston, B, consisting of a disk of leather, a, turned up at the edges, as shown in fig. 1, and held between circular metallic plates or disks, 0 and c. The leather rests upon the plate c, which is secured to or forms a part of a vertical rod, d, and the upper plate 0 is forced down upon the leathe by a nut, 0, upon the said rod. The rod dis connected to the short arm of abandlever, C, which is hung to a bracket on one side of the vessel A, and providedat its outer end with a. suitable handle,f, a handle, 0, being secured to the same side of the'vessel A, for a purpose described hereafter. The plunger B is guided by a rod, g, which is secured to the bottom of the vessel A, arid which enters the hollowrod d, as shown in fig. 1. In the bottom of-the vessel A are four openings, h, each of-which is covered by a flop-valve, i, (of leather, or equivalent materiah) which-opens upward, and a fifth opening, j, is covered by a 'flap 'valve, k, which opens in an opposite direction, (see figs, land 2.) Beneath the vessel are four radial pipes, D, eachof which communicates with one of the openings it, these pipes being confined to the bottom of the vessel by a fourarrned plate, F, through which passes the lower screwed end of the rod 9, the latter being furnished with a nut, Z, bearing against the plate. The pointed end m of each of the arms of the plate F is directly beneath the centre of one of the openings it, and enters a recess in each of the pipes D, so that-the latter can be turned in any direction, packings, 1:1,0f leather or other suitable material maintaining tight joint. Each of the pipe. D has a three-way cock, 1-, and the neck a of a teat-cup, G, is secured to the turned-up end of each of the pipa by a nut, t, as shown in fig. 1. The gutta-percha teat-cups are strengthened and maintained in a comparatively rigid condition by wire rings 11,1 and v, the distance between the rings 0 and vbeing greater than between the rings 2: and f, for a purpose described hereafter.

When it is desired to use the machine the cooks r are so adjusted that communication is opened between the teat-cups and the vessel A, the pipes D are then moved until the cups G are in a proper position to' receive the teats of the cow to be milked. The instrument held in one hand by the handle C, and the lever C is 1 operated by the other hand. When the piston 13 is raised a partial vacuum is formed beneath the same in the f vessel A, and the pressure of air from without closes the fiap-x a'h'e k and opens the valve 2' at the'sanlc time. The portion of. each teat-cup between the rings v and v collapses and exerts a pressure upon the cows teat similar to the pressure of the hand in ordinary milking, and the milk which is thus extracted pass'esnhrcugh the branch pipes into the vessel A. When the motion of the piston is reversed the pressure within the vesaehA closcs the valvesz'and opens the valve is, through which the milk is'discharged into any suitable receptacl This operation is continued, the milk being drawn into the vessel as the piston is raised, and discharged fro it when lowered,'until the cow has been milked, when the machine is applied to another cow and operated witi a like result. It is not necessary that all of the teats of the cow should be milked at one time, as the cocks can be operated so as to shut oil the communication of any of the teat-cups with the vessel A. After using the instrument, the cooks 2' may be turned to the position shown in fig. 1, in order-t0 allow the milk remaining in the branch pipes D to run off through the openings it". After the instrument has been used for a short time,

P the leather disk a of the plunger 13 absorbs a quantity of moisture and consequently expands, thus. making a perfectly tightjoint between the said plunger and the sides pf the vessel A. l

capes 2 Hereto'fore it has been customary to wind a. spiral coil of wire around the teat-cups to prevent them from collapsing, but it has been found-that the cups are too rigid when this continuous coil is used. The separate wire rings, above described, answer the purpose, and at the same timedo not interfere with the fiexibility or proper operation of the teat-cups.

I claimss my invention, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent-- v 1. The combination with the vessel A of a. piston, B, its rod, d, and the operating lever C, the whole being constructed, arrau'ged, mid operating substantially'ae setforth for the purpose specified. i

2'. 'The branch pipes D rendered adjustable on the vessel A, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. 3. The adjustable teat-cups G, strengthened by the rings 1: v and 12, substantially in the manner described.

4. The manner, substantially as described, of securing the teat-cups G to the branch pipes D. In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H; GARDNER.

Witnesses:

J 01m WHITE, W. J. R. DELANY. 

